Ezra J. Hartke 5K/10K Race for Hope

The Ezra J. Hartke Race for Hope is an annual November fundraiser offering 5K and 10K races. Named for Ezra J. Hartke, it supports childhood cancer research and care, having raised over $133,000 to date. The event is presented by The Barry & Denise Johnson Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to raising funds and providing support for childhood cancer. Funds from the inaugural race generated $18,000 for Dayton Children's Hospital research into brain tumors. This research included studying how tumor cells resist treatment and how a steroid medication affects stem cells within a tumor. That initial donation contributed to launching a larger project focused on targeting specific cell types in brain tumors to improve therapy effectiveness.